Green building materials: waterproof coating

Core Certification Content

The green building material certification for waterproof coatings revolves around the green performance of the product throughout its entire life cycle, focusing on the following four attribute dimensions:

Resource Attributes: Includes the solid content index of the product. For high-solid content waterproof coatings, the one-star requirement is single-component not less than 80% and multi-component not less than 85%; two-star requires single-component not less than 85% and multi-component not less than 90%; three-star requires single-component not less than 90% and multi-component not less than 95%.

Energy Attributes: The standard reflects energy-saving requirements through energy consumption control in the production process. Production enterprises shall establish and operate an energy management system in accordance with GB/T 23331, conduct energy reviews, and pursue continuous improvement.

Environmental Attributes: Covers limit indicators for harmful substances such as volatile organic compounds (VOCs), free formaldehyde, ammonia, benzene series, and soluble heavy metals. For water-based waterproof coatings at the three-star level, VOCs shall not exceed 10 grams per liter, free formaldehyde shall not exceed 50 milligrams per kilogram, and soluble lead shall not exceed 10 milligrams per kilogram. For high-solid content waterproof coatings at the three-star level, benzene shall not exceed 20 milligrams per kilogram, and soluble lead shall not exceed 10 milligrams per kilogram.

Quality Attributes: Covers indicators such as water resistance and durability. For water-based waterproof coatings at the three-star level, the retention rate of tensile strength and adhesive strength shall not be less than 80%, the heat aging treatment time is doubled, and accelerated aging under artificial climate is 1500 hours.

Certification Product Scope and Grades

This certification is applicable to the green building material evaluation of waterproof coatings. The certification units are divided into two major categories: water-based waterproof coatings and high-solid content waterproof coatings. Water-based waterproof coatings include product categories such as polymer cement waterproof coatings, emulsified asphalt waterproof coatings, polymer emulsion waterproof coatings, and rubber asphalt waterproof coatings. High-solid content waterproof coatings include product categories such as polyurethane waterproof coatings, polymer cement waterproof coatings, spray polyurea waterproof coatings, and bridge and road waterproof coatings.

The green building material product grading certification, based on the T/CECS 10040-2019 standard, is divided into three levels from low to high according to the evaluation index levels achieved by the product:

One-Star: Meets basic green evaluation requirements and complies with national green building material basic standards. Enterprises must meet all control item requirements, with each evaluation index reaching the one-star baseline value.

Two-Star: Performs well in resource conservation, energy consumption, and environmental protection, reaching the industry's advanced level. Requirements for each evaluation index are stricter than one-star.

Three-Star: Exhibits excellent green performance, with minimal impact on the ecological environment throughout the entire life cycle. It is the highest level of green building material products. Requirements for each evaluation index are the most stringent.

Basic Certification Requirements

Enterprises and products applying for green building material certification for waterproof coatings must meet the following basic conditions:

Production and Operation Compliance Requirements: The production enterprise shall comply with applicable national standards, local standards, and environmental impact assessment approval provisions, and obtain a local government pollutant discharge permit. There shall be no major environmental pollution incidents or major safety accidents in the past three years.

Solid Waste Disposal Requirements: The collection, storage, and disposal of general solid waste shall comply with GB 18599; the storage of hazardous waste shall comply with GB 18597, and it shall subsequently be delivered to units holding a hazardous waste operation permit for disposal.

Management System Requirements: The production enterprise shall establish and operate a quality management system and an environmental management system in accordance with GB/T 19001 and GB/T 24001, respectively.

Product Conformity Requirements: The basic performance of waterproof coatings shall meet the requirements of the corresponding product implementation standards. The product shall provide a valid type inspection report within one year.

Supporting Documentation Requirements: It is necessary to provide a key raw material filing list, factory assurance capability-related management documents, and proof of no major environmental pollution incidents or major safety accidents in the past three years.

Certification Process

The green building material product grading certification implements a model of initial inspection plus product sampling inspection plus post-certification supervision:

Certification Application: Submit an application form (specifying the applied green building material grade), business license, product process flow chart, factory organizational chart, key raw material filing list, product type inspection report valid within one year, management system-related documents, and other materials. After accepting the application, the certification body signs a certification agreement with the certification applicant.

Document Technical Review: The certification body reviews the completeness, suitability, and validity of the application documents. The document technical review for one certification unit requires 2 person-days. For each additional certification unit, an additional 0.5 person-days are added. After accepting the certification application, the body shall generally complete the document technical review within 15 working days. The review conclusions are divided into three situations: meets requirements and can proceed to on-site inspection; basically meets requirements but needs supplementation and improvement; does not meet requirements and cannot proceed to on-site inspection.

Initial Factory Inspection: Includes factory assurance capability inspection, product consistency inspection, and green evaluation requirement compliance verification. The on-site inspection focuses on the operation of the enterprise's energy management system, production energy consumption control measures, wastewater recovery system operation status, pollutant emission control measures, and solid waste disposal status. The basic person-days for on-site inspection of one certification unit are determined based on the enterprise scale: no less than 5 person-days for 100 employees or fewer, no less than 6 person-days for 101 to 499 employees, and no less than 7 person-days for 500 employees or more.

Product Sampling Inspection: The certification body designates a laboratory with CMA qualifications to complete the sampling inspection. Inspection items include solid content, volatile organic compounds, free formaldehyde, benzene series, soluble heavy metals, water resistance, durability, and other indicators. Inspection reports issued within the past 12 months by a laboratory with CMA qualifications that meet the requirements may be accepted.

Certification Result Evaluation and Approval: After the document technical review, on-site inspection, and product sampling inspection are all passed, the certification body conducts a comprehensive evaluation, approves the certification decision, and issues the certificate. From the date of formal acceptance of the certification commission to the date of issuance of the certification certificate, it generally does not exceed 90 days. The certification certificate is valid for five years.

Post-Certification Supervision: After the enterprise obtains the certificate, supervision is arranged, with intervals not exceeding one year. Supervision content includes factory assurance capability supervision inspection, product consistency supervision inspection, continuous compliance verification of green evaluation requirements, and product supervision inspection.

Re-Certification Audit: A re-certification audit is conducted before the certificate expires to extend the certification qualification, typically with a cycle of five years.

Value of Certification

Enhance Product Market Competitiveness: Green building material product certification is a national voluntary product certification. Certified products can receive priority procurement and application in government procurement, key projects, municipal public works, and other projects. In government public buildings, hospitals, schools, and other green building projects, green building material certification has become a necessary qualification and bonus point for bidding and filing. Waterproof coatings are included in the green building material product grading certification directory under the category of waterproof sealants and building coatings.

Enjoy Policy Support and Financial Subsidies: Multiple provinces and cities provide financial rewards or fiscal support to enterprises that pass green building material product certification. Certified enterprises can also enjoy tax incentives such as corporate income tax reductions (with some regions reducing tax rates to 15%). The policy of government procurement supporting green building materials has been implemented in 101 cities (including municipal districts) such as Beijing's Chaoyang District.

Enhance Bidding Competitiveness: A green building material certification certificate can serve as a bonus point in project bidding and procurement (municipal projects with three-star building materials can add 5 to 10 points), helping to enhance the enterprise's differentiated bidding capability. Obtaining a green building material label is a necessary condition and a bidding bonus point for enterprises to participate in major projects and government-invested engineering bids, as well as to enter the qualified supplier list of large key accounts.

Meet Green Building Development Needs: With the implementation of the "Green Building Evaluation Standard" GB/T 50378-2019 and the promotion of green building creation actions, the required proportion of green building materials in new urban buildings is continuously increasing. As an important component of building waterproofing projects, certified waterproof coating products are more easily integrated into the green building market.

Respond to Dual Carbon Strategy Requirements: Against the backdrop of carbon peak and carbon neutrality, green building material product certification requires enterprises to conduct carbon footprint accounting and environmental product declarations, helping enterprises meet carbon emission control requirements and plan for low-carbon development in advance.

Establish Corporate Social Responsibility Image: Passing the certification can demonstrate the enterprise's commitments and actions in resource conservation and environmental protection, enhance customer trust, improve brand reputation, and meet consumer demand for upgraded green building materials.